Statement on Trump Aid Freeze – Fire Victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) released the following statement on the Trump administration’s proposed sweeping federal funding freeze:

“A federal court has stopped Trump’s effort to freeze federal financial assistance at least for a few days.

But because of the President’s order, FEMA was looking into whether they had to suspend federal assistance to Palisades Fire victims effective tomorrow. President Trump’s Executive Order showed reckless indifference to victims of the fire. Until the case is resolved, or until FEMA attorneys determine how it affects disaster aid, fire victims remain left in limbo, unsure whether the federal government will provide them with support, support that is in current law, support that Congress has already funded in December when we gave FEMA money to deal with early 2025 disasters.

On Friday, I was with President Trump in the Pacific Palisades, and he expressed his sympathy for the fire victims. Today’s action seems to repudiate those statements of sympathy.

People displaced in the Los Angeles Fires need to get money by January 31 to pay for their temporary housing. Even if Donald Trump relents, he has already caused substantial mental anguish to people who have already lost almost everything.

I hope very much that the Trump appointed temporary FEMA administrator concludes that this executive order will not apply to benefit payments to fire victims or SBA loans to fire victims, and I hope the courts determine the order is illegal and has no effect on all government programs.”

###